IAEA Country Officer Conducts Upstream Work for 2007-2008 Technical Cooperation Programme
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IAEA's Programme Management Officer for the Philippines, Dr. Reyad Kamel, was in town a few days ago (22 - 27 August) to review the progress of the ongoing Technical Cooperation projects of the Philippines with IAEA and to discuss programming prospectives for the next project cycle.
While on his one-week mission, Dr. Kamel had the chance to meet with the Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology, top officials from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and with the local project counterparts and collaborators.
He was also able to conduct a national seminar detailing the latest Technical Cooperation trends and strategies being adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Philippines currently implements national Technical Cooperation projects in the following areas: enhancing agricultural productivity through radiation technology, water resources management, assessment of erosion and sedimentation processes, evaluation of air pollution, training in non-destructive testing, siting for a near-surface disposal facility, and the upgrading of the existing gamma irradiation facility.
RCA Regional Office Despatches to the Philippines its Special Advisor
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The RCA Regional Office (RCARO) in Korea has sent its Special Advisor, Dr. Carlito R. Aleta, on a mission to the Philippines - among other countries - in an effort to improve the visibility and increase the viability of the Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) Programme.
The visit to the region aims to explore potential partnerships with United Nations and other developmental organizations that would have programme thrusts in keeping with the Millennium Development Goals. The RCA programme implements nuclear technology projects in thematic areas such as agriculture, health, environment, industry and energy which seek to addres priority needs of the Member Countries through a regional cooperative framework.
While in the Philippines, Dr. Aleta was able to visit the World Health Organization, Asian Development Bank, Food & Agriculture Organization, United Nations Development Programme, and the International Rice Research Institute. He likewise met with the local RCA National Project Counterparts to gather success stories and acquire insights on the partnerships which they have established in the course of project implementation.
Dr. Aleta is the immediate past RCA Coordinator in Vienna, Austria, and the Director of PNRI prior to the incumbent.
Mission Evaluates Past IAEA Projects
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Two experts were sent by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last 15 to 19 August, to examine achievements and constraints under selected projects of the IAEA environmental programme implemented in the Philippines.
The mission team, composed of Mr. Dalibor Kysela of IAEA and Mr. Katsumi Hirose of Japan, sought to gather evaluative evidence, best practices and other relevant experiences from past and ongoing Technical Cooperation projects on the marine environment for possible inputs to IAEA's future programming.
The team was able to meet with project staff from the PNRI, the U.P.-Marine Science Institute (MSI) and National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS), and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Visits to international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO-PEMSEA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) were also conducted. Similarly, Messrs. Kysela and Hirose had the opportunity to meet with Science Secretary Dr. Estrella F. Alabastro and PCAMRD Director Dr. Rafael Guerrero III.
United States and Philippine Governments Launch Effort to Detect Terrorist Shipments of Nuclear Material
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Equipment Will Help Thwart Attempts to Smuggle Components for Nuclear Weapons and "Dirty Bombs" through Seaports
Manila - The United States and Philippine Governments today signed an agreement to install special equipment at the Port of Manila to detect hidden shipments of nuclear and other radioactive material. This agreement will further strengthen their work together in the war on terrorism.
United States Charge d'Affaires Joseph A. Mussomeli signed the cooperative agreement on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) with Secretary Estrella Alabastro of the Philippines Department of Science and Technology (D0ST). "The United States and the Philippines both recognize the need to remain vigilant against the threat posed by the trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials through the global maritime shipping network," said Chargé d'Affaires Mussomeli. "This initiative is yet another example of the excellent cooperation in the overall relationship between the United States and the Philippines, and will further our mutual international nonproliferation and anti-terrorist efforts."
Secretary Alabastro said, "This is one big stride in strengthening the world's nuclear security regime. The increased capacity of the Philippines to prevent illicit movements of radioactive sources will impact the global monitoring systems. It also supports our national effort to enhance and strengthen the safety and security of radioactive sources under the regulatory control of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute."
The U.S. - Philippines agreement falls under the Department of Energy, (DOE) NNSA Megaports Initiative, which is designed to work with foreign governments to deter, detect and interdict illicit shipments of nuclear and radioactive materials. The Philippines will be one of the first countries in Southeast Asia to utilize this type of detection system. The specialized radiation detection technology was developed by DOE laboratories as part of overall U.S. nuclear security efforts to guard against the proliferation of nuclear weapons material.
The Megaports Initiative supports foreign countries in deploying radiation detection capability at key seaports to screen cargo containers for nuclear and other radioactive materials.
